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Genetic studies of lactococcal bacteriophages—taxonomic differentiations and DNA analysis: evidence for 3′ cohesive ends
Author(s) -
Ermel Gwennola,
Cavalier Annie,
Thomas D.,
Pennec J.P.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1994.tb01099.x
Subject(s) - lactococcus lactis , lytic cycle , prolate spheroid , genome , dna , biology , bacteriophage , genetics , homogeneous , gene , bacteria , physics , virus , combinatorics , escherichia coli , mathematics , lactic acid , classical mechanics
Twenty‐four bacteriophages of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. cremoris were classified. Two groups of bacteriophages morphologically defined as prolate or isometric types by electron microscopy were examined for their genome sizes, protein patterns and DNA homologies. These criteria showed that prolate phages are quite homogeneous. In contrast, isometric phages exhibit more differences, particularly in particle sizes and protein compositions. Analysis of DNA hybridizations confirmed that prolate phages can be grouped together as can be isometric phages but for one exception, phage I52. These two families were clearly defined. The unique phage which does not fit in either group probably belongs to a third one which is much less represented. No obvious relationships between these criteria and the lytic spectra were detected. Evidence of the presence of cohesive ends in phage genomes is also presented in this study. A more detailed analysis performed on one member of the prolate group revealed 3′ protruding ends made up of around 13 nucleotides on complementary single strands.